Loughborough University Offers The Best Student Experience In The UK

Loughborough University offers the best student experience in the country, according to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) UK Student Experience Survey. Rising from second position last year, Loughborough University secured this year’s top spot by meeting or exceeding the sector average in each of the 21 measures used to determine the overall results.

The 2015 THE Student Experience Survey sees last year’s winner, the University of Bath, drop to fifth place, while Harper Adams University enters the rankings for the first time in second place. Keele University has also entered this year’s top ten, while the University of Surrey and the University of Exeter have both exited the top ten.

Top 10 overall ranked universities

University

2015 rank

2014 rank

2013 rank

Loughborough University

1

2

11

Harper Adams University*

2

–

–

University of Sheffield

3

3

1

University of Oxford

4

5

4

University of Bath

5

1

2

University of Leeds

6

9

9

University of East Anglia (UEA)

=7

6

3

Newcastle University

=7

10

16

University of Cambridge

9

4

6

Keele University*

10

21

13

*Denotes an introduction into the top 10 in 2015

John Gill, editor of Times Higher Education, comments: “Increasing competition between universities and an intense focus on the student experience are still top of the agenda for the higher education sector. Our survey is perfectly placed to track what this means in practice, and which universities are performing well in specific areas – whether in teaching and learning, or areas such as the standard of facilities, in which many institutions have been investing heavily.”

The THE Student Experience Survey, now in its 11th year, is unique in that it looks beyond the usual definition of the student experience – comprised largely of teaching, learning, assessment and feedback – to a broader definition, one created by students themselves that includes those aspects of university life that matter most to them.

This year’s survey also shows that students are becoming more demanding of their university with a general growth in their expectations across all 21 measures assessed. Results show that students increasingly value and expect good industry connections, high-quality facilities and good security while also working harder, volunteering more, and doing further extra-curricular activities.

John Gill continues: “As our survey shows, students are becoming more professional in their approach to their studies. They are investing more in their education and are far more clear-eyed in what they expect from their university.

“What’s more, with the greater choice available of where to study following the abolition of the student numbers cap, universities are competing to secure students – and their tuition fee income – to a far greater degree than they used to, meaning students’ expectations now have to be met.”

Perhaps surprisingly, results from the survey show that those institutions at the bottom end of the table tend to be based in London, occupying 12 of the bottom 20 places. These includes historic university, the London School of Economics (110th) and more modern institutions, such as Kingston University (108th) and the University of Greenwich (111th). Imperial College London is the only mainstream university based in the capital to make the top half of the satisfaction rankings in joint 54th place, with those based in London doing poorly on accommodation and the feeling of community atmosphere on campus.

Southampton Solent University was found to be the most improved university in the 2015 Student Experience Survey. The institution scored highly on having a good library and library opening hours, good environment on campus/around university and centralised convenient facilities. Seven universities entered the top 40 this year. Harper Adams was the highest new entrant in second rank. The University of Chester, Aston University, Swansea University, Coventry University, Robert Gordon University and University of Sussex were the next highest placed new entrants.

Highest performing new entrants

New universities to the Top 40 in 2015

University

Overall rank

Harper Adams University

2

University of Chester

29

Aston University

32

Swansea University

=33

Coventry University

=35

Robert Gordon University

=38

University of Sussex

=38

Regionally, seven out of twelve regions have seen no change in their top placed institution since last year; Loughborough, Royal Veterinary College (a specialist college, part of the University of London), Newcastle University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Oxford, University of Bath and University of Sheffield all retain their top status in their respective regions.

Interestingly, University of East Anglia (UEA) has displaced University of Cambridge in the Eastern region; Edge Hill University has displaced Lancaster University in North West region; University of St Andrews has displaced University of Dundee in Scotland; Cardiff University has displaced Bangor University in Wales; and Harper Adams has displaced University of Warwick in the West Midlands region.

About Author

Charles Whitworth is the Editor of the Young Academic publications.
Graduating from the University of Liverpool with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 2008, Charles learnt his trade in newsrooms such as IPC Media and Sky.
He has now developed as a top sports, music and current affairs journalist and has been printed in a range of publications including The Guardian. His interests include Cricket, Football, Rugby, Music and Current Affairs.
Fresh from the editorship of Student Times he now takes the reins at Young Academic - the premier student news portal.
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